Pregnant with the Immortal Venerable's Child After Divorce - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Pitying Him Will Bring Bad Luck!!

Yan Zhu hadn’t expected Wen Sucheng’s methods to be so forceful. He immediately wanted to summon Qi Ran’yin to rescue him, but when he reached for his spatial ring, he realized it was gone. All his communication artifacts were inside!

Not even a master thief could have pulled off such a clean job!

Yan Zhu reluctantly searched the room, but he was so used to putting everything in his spatial ring that now that it was taken, he truly had nothing.

He looked down at himself and his eyes fell on the jade pendant at his waist.

It was the Yan family jade pendant. He had kept it hanging there for easy contact with Yan Zhitao in the secret realm. Wen Sucheng hadn’t found it!

He immediately took the jade pendant off his waist and skillfully contacted Yan Zhitao.

“Uncle Master, why did you return so quickly?” Yan Zhitao’s voice came through the jade pendant. Her tone didn’t sound worried about him.

Yan Zhu thought about it and realized why.

Since he and Wen Sucheng had disappeared together, the others probably assumed they had planned it.

Feeling frustrated, he said, “Are Ran’yin and Yun Xian near you?”

“Yes, they are,” Yan Zhitao replied. “Uncle Master, what do you need? I can pass on the message!”

This was the only drawback of the jade pendant; only the owner could use it. If he were talking directly to Qi Ran’yin or the others, he would simply say he was kidnapped. But he couldn’t say that to Yan Zhitao. Firstly, he didn’t want the little girl to worry, and secondly, he was afraid the news would reach his uncle and cause misunderstandings.

After a moment’s thought, Yan Zhu focused on the words Yingyun Xian had spoken before they left. Although he didn’t know what had happened, Yingyun Xian’s tone was strange at the time.

“Tell the two of them that something has come up at the Bright Heart Sect, and they need to come help,” Yan Zhu explained. “The sooner, the better.”

Yan Zhitao acknowledged it and then asked, “Is it troublesome? Should I tell Great-Granduncle?”

Yan Zhu immediately refused: “No need. It’s just a small bother. No need to alarm Uncle. You go back first and tell Uncle that I’ll go see him as soon as I finish dealing with this matter.”

Yan Zhitao agreed, and once Yan Zhu confirmed he had nothing else to say, she cut the communication.

Yan Zhu put the jade pendant away, his gaze sweeping around the room. He called out, “Wen Sucheng! Do you think confining me here means I can’t do anything?! I have plenty of ways to get rid of this child!!”

There was no response in the room.

Yan Zhu didn’t know if Wen Sucheng couldn’t hear him or wasn’t afraid, so he impulsively picked up the scissors on the dressing table and aimed them at his thigh.

However, before the scissors could even touch his clothes, they met with resistance and wouldn’t stab through.

He couldn’t hurt himself.

Although he hadn’t actually planned to stab himself, he couldn’t help but frown at the sight.

This place hadn’t been laden with so many restrictions before. Wen Sucheng hadn’t done this on a whim; he had planned it in advance and made full preparations.

After thinking for a while, Yan Zhu tentatively raised his hand and made a gesture.

A Spirit-Attached Doll immediately walked in and stood respectfully behind him.

This much, at least, hadn’t changed.

Yan Zhu got up, retrieved paper and a brush, quickly wrote a few words on the paper, folded it, handed it to the Spirit-Attached Doll, and ordered: “Take this to Second Senior Brother.”

The Spirit-Attached Doll didn’t move.

Yan Zhu tried again: “Go invite Eldest Senior Sister over.”

The Spirit-Attached Doll still didn’t move.

After another thought, Yan Zhu commanded: “Go fetch a Clarity Pill from Third Senior Brother.”

The Spirit-Attached Doll remained still.

Yan Zhu frowned: “Go slice a plate of spiritual fruit.”

This time, the Spirit-Attached Doll moved.

Yan Zhu immediately felt deflated.

These Spirit-Attached Dolls were all made by Wen Sucheng. What did he expect?!

Furious, furious, furious!

But he couldn’t do anything, so he smashed things to vent his anger.

By the time the Spirit-Attached Doll returned, nearly everything on the dressing table had been smashed to the floor.

Seeing the scene, the Spirit-Attached Doll put down the spiritual fruit and started cleaning up.

Soon, another Spirit-Attached Doll arrived, carrying a cup of calming tea.

“You’re quite thoughtful!” Yan Zhu was so angry he smashed the tea as well.

The Spirit-Attached Doll immediately went to brew another cup.

Yan Zhu felt his heart seize up from anger.

But he didn’t touch the tea again, merely letting it sit there.

After all, it was silly to get angry at two wooden figures.

But Wen Sucheng was also a wooden figure.

Yan Zhu started to get angry again, grabbing the calming tea and taking a large gulp.

It’s all because of this child, isn’t it?

Yan Zhu angrily wanted to punch his stomach, but his hand was blocked again before it even touched his clothes.

He had no choice but to give up, crossing his arms and pondering other methods.

After a while, he summoned several Spirit-Attached Dolls. Pointing to one, he ordered: “Go pick some Flower Butterfly Orchids for me.” After that Spirit-Attached Doll left, he pointed to another, “You go snap off some Flying Star Wood.” Then the next one, “Go to the vault and retrieve a piece of Vein-Severing Bone.”

He continued issuing orders in quick succession, giving each Spirit-Attached Doll a task.

But when he got to the fifth one, it suddenly stopped moving.

Yan Zhu immediately understood.

Wen Sucheng knew everything that happened here.

He already knew what Yan Zhu intended to do.

Yan Zhu dealt with various spiritual plants and herbs year-round and was intimately familiar with their medicinal properties. While he wasn’t as proficient as Yingyun Xian, concocting an abortifacient himself wasn’t a problem.

Wen Sucheng didn’t usually dabble in these things, but he was also skilled in alchemy and knew just as much as Yan Zhu, if not more.

He sat by the window, feeling depressed, hoping someone passing by would see him so he could complain.

Although Wen Sucheng had likely considered this, and disciples rarely passed by Burning Snow Peak since it was quite remote, Yan Zhu was truly out of ideas.

He felt a bit wronged by his own spiritual roots at this moment.

If he had learned some spells or sword techniques, even if his cultivation level was low, he would have more options instead of being trapped here like this.

He wondered how long it would take for Qi Ran’yin to arrive.

Yan Zhu leaned on the windowsill, watching the clouds drift by. The weather was beautiful today, beautifully irritating.

But what irritated him more was that despite all this, he was still feeling sleepy.

Yan Zhu didn’t want to sleep. He washed his face and went to look through his books. He refused to believe there was no solution!

But as he flipped through the pages, his eyelids started to droop again. Finally, unable to stay awake, his body slumped, and he quickly fell asleep.

When he awoke, only a sliver of sunset color remained in the sky. Candles had been lit in the sleeping quarters, and a figure was sitting beside him, gently stroking his stomach.

Yan Zhu instantly jolted awake, instinctively backing away until he hit the bookshelf. It wasn’t a hard impact, but the books tumbled down with a clatter, only to slide harmlessly to the side just before they could hit him.

“Little Zhu,” Wen Sucheng softly called him, reaching out to touch him, but Yan Zhu slapped his hand away.

Yan Zhu frowned at him: “What exactly do you want?”

Wen Sucheng lowered his eyes and explained: “I want to keep the child.”

“Impossible,” Yan Zhu refused directly. “You should know I will never agree.”

Wen Sucheng kept his head down and didn’t look at him, softly uttering an “Mm.”

His calm demeanor was like a thin needle pricking Yan Zhu’s nerves.

It stung him painfully.

He felt a lump of air stuck in his throat, unable to come out or be swallowed down, choking him until he felt nauseous.

And indeed, he covered his mouth and dry-heaved.

Wen Sucheng quickly reached out to help him, but Yan Zhu forcefully pushed him away.

Yan Zhu hadn’t eaten anything today, so nothing came up, only his eyes turned red.

He took a deep breath to suppress the discomfort in his throat, vigorously wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and then looked up at Wen Sucheng.

“It’s just a normal reaction. This is exactly what you want,” Yan Zhu explained. “You know it, but you still want it, so you’re using this method, right?”

Wen Sucheng opened his mouth, wanting to offer an explanation, but then heard Yan Zhu say: “You want to see me suffer.”

“No,” Wen Sucheng frowned, his voice cold and deep, sounding angry.

Yan Zhu smiled, stood up, and looked down at him: “Ran’yin and Yun Xian will be here soon. You are not allowed to harm them.”

Wen Sucheng looked up at him, a hint of surprise in his eyes: “I won’t.”

“I used to believe you wouldn’t treat me like this,” Yan Zhu said. “You also said before that anything I want, you will give me, right?”

Wen Sucheng did not answer.

Silence fell between the two again.

There was always more silence than interaction between them.

It was true before, and it was true now, only the circumstances were different.

Yan Zhu looked at the person who was silent with his head bowed. He had thought all day but still couldn’t understand why Wen Sucheng had suddenly changed.

He couldn’t help but ask: “Did something happen?”

Otherwise, he couldn’t figure out why Wen Sucheng would do this.

But Wen Sucheng only shook his head, saying, “I can handle it.”

Yes, the Descending Snow Celestial Venerable, the number one cultivator in the world—what couldn’t he handle?

Yan Zhu realized he was truly daydreaming. Even in this situation, he was still making excuses for Wen Sucheng.

“Little Zhu,” Wen Sucheng softly said, “Please keep him.”

Yan Zhu did not respond, walking directly to take a bath.

Wen Sucheng followed him.

Yan Zhu pretended not to see him, only subtly moving away when Wen Sucheng got too close.

It went on like this for several days.

All that was left between them was suffocating silence.

Sometimes, Yan Zhu would wake up in the middle of the night and see Wen Sucheng sitting by the bed, either lost in thought or contemplating something. He even considered asking him if he regretted it.

Regretted doing this.

If he regretted it…

What would happen if he regretted it? Looking in the mirror the next day, Yan Zhu couldn’t help but ask himself, If Wen Sucheng regretted it, what would I want?

Would he forgive Wen Sucheng? Call him Little Senior Brother again, and trust him unconditionally?

Probably not.

Wen Sucheng must know this, too. He was a very intelligent wooden figure, and even the choice to be a wooden figure was his own. With Wen Sucheng’s mind, if he wanted to, he could easily please everyone and have friends everywhere.

But Wen Sucheng didn’t. He didn’t have many close people around him. The ones who could say a few words to him were probably carefully selected.

As for someone he could open his heart to… perhaps not even one.

No, I mustn’t think about this! Pitying him will bring bad luck!!

Yan Zhu lightly tapped his head against the dressing table twice. It didn’t hurt or make a sound because he couldn’t hit it hard.

He started counting on his fingers again. The flying ship they took to Fengling Continent was very fast. Qi Ran’yin might not be traveling at that speed on the way back. Would he start showing before Qi Ran’yin arrived?!

Yan Zhu started losing his temper again.

Wen Sucheng would replenish the items in his room every day, as if specifically leaving them for him to vent on.

But Yan Zhu wanted to smash Wen Sucheng himself, and he actually had.

The restrictions here didn’t allow him to hurt himself, but they didn’t protect Wen Sucheng. When he threw a box at Wen Sucheng’s head, he gave him a direct lump.

So Yan Zhu threw even more things at him.

Wen Sucheng didn’t dodge, only walking up to him when he was tired and gently asking, “Are you less angry now?”

The small amount of anger Yan Zhu had managed to subdue immediately flared up again. He was so angry he told Wen Sucheng to get lost.

Wen Sucheng left, but he returned that night.

He had never returned so frequently, so frequently that Yan Zhu found it strange: “Don’t you have work to do?”

Wen Sucheng shook his head, took a step closer to him, and softly asked, “Did you rest well today?”

Yan Zhu frowned, not answering.

Wen Sucheng continued: “You need to rest well when you’re pregnant. The child will be smarter in the future.”

Other than during work, Yan Zhu rarely heard Wen Sucheng speak so many instructive words, and he was saying all this to ensure Yan Zhu took care of the child.

Yan Zhu suddenly felt his throat itch again.

He wanted to vomit.

He wanted to cry.

He couldn’t help but raise his hand and deliver a heavy slap to Wen Sucheng’s cheek. The clear smack echoed in the room.

Wen Sucheng’s head was knocked to the side by the force, but he quickly turned back, looking down at Yan Zhu, and softly asked, “Are you less angry now?”

It was the same cold, suffocating tone.

Yan Zhu’s hand hurt, and his heart seemed to ache faintly.

He was fighting with Wen Sucheng, but he didn’t want to say excessively harsh words to him, didn’t want to act like a lunatic.

But at this moment, looking at Wen Sucheng, he couldn’t hold back.

“Wen Sucheng,” Yan Zhu asked him, “Do you really think this can keep me contained?”

Wen Sucheng looked at him, not answering.

“Yes, my spiritual roots are useless, so I can’t break your restrictions, and I can’t harm it,” Yan Zhu looked into Wen Sucheng’s eyes, which seemed forever calm, and said word for word, “But if I want to die, you can’t stop me.”

The calm lake surface was instantly disturbed as if a stone had been dropped into it, causing ripples.

Yan Zhu continued: “You’ve never seen my mother trying to kill herself, have you? I have. So you’d better keep an eye on me constantly. Just let me out of your sight for a moment, and I guarantee you’ll never see me again in this life.”

The ripples turned into giant waves.

Wen Sucheng’s eyes revealed an unprecedented panic. He reached out to grab Yan Zhu, calling his name repeatedly through his struggle: “Little Zhu, don’t be like this.”

It wasn’t until Yan Zhu finally stopped struggling that Wen Sucheng reached out and embraced him, pressing his lips to Yan Zhu’s ear, a gesture as intimate as a lover’s whisper, but his voice lacked its previous composure, becoming very small, as small as a humble plea: “Little Zhu, please keep him, okay?”

Yan Zhu’s arms hung limply. He neither resisted nor responded, like he had turned into a wooden figure himself. Only his mouth still managed an answer: “No.”

His voice was unusually cold, cold in a way that felt foreign to Wen Sucheng.

The arms holding Yan Zhu slowly tightened, as if trying to crush him, but his voice carried an inappropriate sense of grievance: “Keep him, please. As long as you agree to keep him, I’ll listen to whatever you say. You can even kill me. Or don’t you want to give birth? Then let me give birth, okay? Yingyun Xian should have a way. I’ll ask him. I can find any treasure. Just keep him…”

The rest of his words were very soft, sounding like self-talk.

Like utter nonsense.

Yan Zhu hadn’t heard this tone in a long time. A strong, chilling fear began to surge in his heart, leaving him feeling like he was plunging into an ice cellar.

But he smiled: “What if the price is my life?”

Wen Sucheng’s voice abruptly stopped.

Yan Zhu continued: “I asked Yun Xian. Men giving birth defies logic. It can’t be done. Don’t even think about it.”

So Wen Sucheng’s words reverted to the earlier plea: “Little Zhu, please keep him.”

He said this, then gently touched the side of Yan Zhu’s face, landing a kiss that seemed like a consolation.

Yan Zhu turned his head, dodging his next kiss, and let out a cold laugh, mocking: “Keep him for what? So he can face you like I do?”

Wen Sucheng instantly froze.

Yan Zhu took the opportunity to push him away, his eyes cold: “Wen Sucheng, how are you any different from your father now?”

This was the most stinging sentence Wen Sucheng had heard in all these days.

In the eyes of outsiders, Wen Tianren was flawless, and being compared to him was a compliment, but Wen Sucheng knew how much Yan Zhu loathed him.

And now Yan Zhu said, “Your father.”

It was like…

Wen Sucheng’s face turned pale. He vaguely sensed something and let go of Yan Zhu in panic, turning to leave.

But Yan Zhu’s voice forcefully cut into his hasty footsteps, reaching his ears: “Do you want me to become like my mother so badly?”

His voice wasn’t cold. It even carried a hint of mocking laughter, but every word clung to Wen Sucheng like a vengeful spirit demanding retribution, suffocating him.

He virtually fled the room.

Yan Zhu then dropped the smile, covering his mouth and dry-heaving again.

He really was trained by Wen Tianren. In the end, they only know how to do the same things.

The same disgusting things!

Disgusting!

He hadn’t eaten for several days, and now he couldn’t even vomit up sour liquid, but he wasn’t hungry. His empty cultivation could allow him to be trapped here for a long time.

However, the next day, Yan Zhu discovered that Wen Sucheng and Wen Tianren were still different.

Wen Tianren rarely visited Verdant Peak, but Wen Sucheng came every day.

He acted as if he had forgotten what happened yesterday, sitting beside Yan Zhu and softly asking about his health.

Yan Zhu didn’t answer him.

He remembered his mother rarely answered his father’s questions. Every time his father said a few words without a response, he would leave.

But Wen Sucheng didn’t. Not only did he not leave, but he also embraced Yan Zhu.

Tiny kisses landed on his neck. They should have been intimate, but Yan Zhu only felt terror.

“Little Zhu,” Wen Sucheng softly called him, “Can you really not keep him?”

Yan Zhu lowered his eyes, remaining silent.

Wen Sucheng soon left.

The next day was the same.

He seemed to have turned back into a wooden figure, repeating the same actions every day like a Spirit-Attached Doll. But unlike before, his eyes now held an intense, unshakeable obsession. When he stared at Yan Zhu, it was like a venomous snake coiling around him.

Yan Zhu had never seen such powerful emotion in Wen Sucheng’s eyes before.

He didn’t understand.

Had Wen Sucheng been possessed?

This enormous change, besides causing fear, also made him uneasy.

He worried that something had gone wrong.

He tried to indirectly question Yan Zhitao, but Yan Zhitao happily claimed that nothing was wrong and said she and Qi Ran’yin were coming to see him.

Yan Zhu didn’t know if everything was truly fine or if Qi Ran’yin and the others were deliberately keeping things from him.

He counted the days. Given Qi Ran’yin’s speed, he should arrive in a few days, but Wen Sucheng was already driving him mad.

Just as he was considering taking drastic measures, Wen Sucheng told him that Qi Ran’yin had arrived.

He arrived much sooner than Yan Zhu expected.

Yan Zhu was about to request to see him, but Wen Sucheng spoke first: “Would you like some tea?”

Yan Zhu felt a surge of irritation, but after a moment’s hesitation, he nodded slightly.

There was no need for him and Wen Sucheng to be so hostile.

Wen Sucheng had a Spirit-Attached Doll bring the tea set. His movements—washing, selecting, brewing, steeping, and filtering—were fluid and pleasing to the eye.

He seemed capable of doing everything perfectly.

Yan Zhu took the hot tea Wen Sucheng poured for him, placed it under his nose, and inhaled. The light fragrance had a hint of sweetness—it was the kind of tea he liked.

Wen Sucheng also took a sip, then said: “I arranged for him to stay on Dust-Free Peak. Disciples will take him on a tour. He will have a good time. You should rest easy.”

He didn’t mention allowing them to meet at all.

Yan Zhu immediately felt the tea he just sipped was disgusting.

He put the teacup down. He didn’t lose his temper or bring up the meeting. He only said: “You and Wen Tianren are truly cut from the same cloth.”

Wen Sucheng lowered his eyes, not speaking.

Yan Zhu got up, walked to the window, and started watching the clouds again.

He was too familiar with Wen Sucheng’s tactics. Whenever someone came to see his mother, his father would dismiss them the same way, using the excuse that she was too ill to receive guests. He would present himself with a nauseatingly affectionate demeanor to maintain his image, completely severing his mother’s connection with the outside world.

When he couldn’t stop someone, he would exaggerate his mother’s condition and say that she constantly wanted to leave, but he was worried about her. So his mother would meet a worried friend who would help his father persuade her to stay.

The kindness of a close relative felt like a knife, and she was forced to swallow it.

But he was different from his mother.

And Qi Ran’yin was different from those people.

As Yan Zhu thought this, his heart felt fiercely squeezed, and the space left by the pressure felt hollow.

Yan Zhu couldn’t help but dry-heave again.

But this time, it seemed less severe than before. It stopped after a few retches.

It was like the little thing’s thoughtfulness.

Or perhaps he had just gotten used to it.

He knew Wen Sucheng wouldn’t harm Qi Ran’yin, but not out of trust for Wen Sucheng. Rather, he knew his father wouldn’t do anything that would invite gossip, and Wen Sucheng, as his disciple, wouldn’t do it either.

He would only try every means to prevent Qi Ran’yin from seeing him, perhaps even fabricating rumors to discredit him.

The two of them were the same.

Maybe in a few years, there would be rumors outside, saying he had lost his health and gone mad after giving birth.

Just like his deceased mother, a cause for regret.

People would even say that both mother and son were lucky to marry good husbands, but alas, they were born with unfortunate fates and couldn’t enjoy the blessings.

But he realized he was wrong again.

A few days later, Qi Ran’yin suddenly entered. Seeing him, he seemed relieved: “Little Zhu! I’m glad you’re alright!”

Yan Zhu was stunned to see him, then immediately asked nervously: “You came here? Does Wen Sucheng know?”

This was the first time Qi Ran’yin had heard him call Wen Sucheng by his full name. He was surprised for a moment, then smiled and nodded: “This place is guarded like an iron barrel. How could I get in without his permission?”

His tone was so relaxed that Yan Zhu felt confused.

He confirmed: “You came to rescue me, right?”

Qi Ran’yin looked puzzled: “Rescue you from what?”

Yan Zhu thought, As expected. He wondered what Wen Sucheng had told him.

He was about to explain, when Qi Ran’yin said: “It’s Celestial Venerable who needs rescuing now, isn’t it?”

Yan Zhu’s heart sank. He frowned and looked at him: “What do you mean?”

Qi Ran’yin understood from his tone: “So you didn’t know. No wonder he didn’t want me to come.”

Yan Zhu grew anxious: “Stop talking in riddles!”

“What’s the rush? I can’t explain it in just a few words,” Qi Ran’yin reached out and patted his shoulder. “Sit down and let me tell you slowly.”

Yan Zhu finally suppressed his emotions, sat down at the table with Qi Ran’yin, summoned a Spirit-Attached Doll to prepare some food, and then asked: “What did he tell you?”

“He didn’t say much, just that the situation is complicated right now, and Burning Snow Peak has a lot of restrictions, so I shouldn’t come over,” Qi Ran’yin looked at Yan Zhu strangely. “What did you think he said?”

Yan Zhu was speechless.

He wanted to voice his previous suspicions, but at that moment, he realized how malicious those assumptions were.

“Nothing,” Yan Zhu said. “You said the situation is complicated. Did something happen to the Bright Heart Sect?”

Qi Ran’yin shook his head, then thought for a moment and nodded: “Some time ago, roughly when we were in the secret realm, someone saw the Descending Snow Celestial Venerable go to the Purification Spring.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Yan Zhu wondered.

The Purification Spring was a place to cleanse demonic energy. Some disciples who killed demonic creatures or ran errands in the demon realm might pick up some demonic energy. They would soak in the spring to cleanse it.

Qi Ran’yin wagged a finger: “It wasn’t that kind. It was inside his body, understand?”

Yan Zhu was confused: “How is that possible?”

“Everyone else thought the same way you did,” Qi Ran’yin said. “But this matter is both big and small, so they proposed to verify the situation. It turned out they really did detect demonic energy inside him.”

Yan Zhu shook his head: “Impossible. Is someone framing him?”

Qi Ran’yin also shook his head: “It’s true. The Sect Master Wen admitted it, but when asked where it came from, Celestial Venerable couldn’t say. Now, people from many sects are coming to the Bright Heart Sect.”

Yan Zhu’s face turned grim. He wanted to defend Wen Sucheng, but he couldn’t say anything.

He didn’t truly know Wen Sucheng.

He couldn’t say where he came from, what he had done, or why it was impossible for this to happen.

A simple statement of “I believe him” would sound incredibly weak, especially since he had just been doubting Wen Sucheng.

“What is his condition now?” Yan Zhu asked. Then he realized the question was pointless. It was impossible for an ordinary cultivator to have demonic energy inside them, unless they had been involved in some evil technique or had become a demon.

An ordinary cultivator becoming a demon wasn’t a major issue, but Wen Sucheng was different. He was the number one sword cultivator. If he turned traitor, things would become terrifying.

Yan Zhu thought of Wen Tianren again. That man always prioritized his reputation. Would he deal with Wen Sucheng the same way he dealt with Yan Zhu’s mother? Even if it was his most prized son?

Yes.

Yan Zhu barely had to think for the answer. After all, before he was born, Wen Tianren and his mother were also lovers.

“What are they planning to do with him?” Yan Zhu asked.

“Sect Master Wen wants to confine him until the demonic energy in his body is completely removed,” Qi Ran’yin replied. “But no one knows how much demonic energy he has. Some people are worried that he has become a demon and will go on a killing spree under the influence of the demonic energy, so they suggest confining him to the Gale Gorge or the Evil-Smiting Platform.”

Yan Zhu felt a rush of suffocation upon hearing this.

The Gale Gorge, as its name suggested, was constantly swept by knife-like gale winds. It had numerous internal mechanisms and heavy external restrictions. It was a place for disciples who had committed grave mistakes to reflect and examine themselves. From what Qi Ran’yin said, they wouldn’t release him easily.

The Evil-Smiting Platform was even worse, a place for executing the most heinous criminals. Heavenly lightning was constantly striking there. Criminals were hung by hooks piercing their hands and feet, enduring the baptism of lightning until their sins were cleansed. Most people couldn’t survive it and died there directly.

“By what right?” Yan Zhu’s brows furrowed deeply. “He hasn’t done anything wrong. Why should he suffer such punishment?”

Qi Ran’yin explained: “Those people suggest sending him to the Evil-Smiting Platform without restraining him, letting the heavenly lightning purify the demonic energy in his body. His cultivation is so high, they believe he can endure it.”

“But…”

“I know,” Qi Ran’yin reached out and patted Yan Zhu’s head soothingly. “They are actually just jealous of Celestial Venerable and want to pull him down from his pedestal. A bunch of insidious people.”

“Is no one speaking up for him?” Yan Zhu asked.

Qi Ran’yin nodded, helpless: “Of course there are. After all, he has helped many people over the years, but as soon as those people speak up, they are accused of shielding a demon. Who would dare to open their mouth?”

“What about Little Senior Brother?” Yan Zhu asked anxiously. “What does he say?”

“Of course, he’s unwilling. He’s not mad,” Qi Ran’yin explained. “So now those people are pressuring Sect Master Wen to purge his sect.”

Yan Zhu’s expression became grim upon hearing this.

He didn’t need to think to know that Wen Tianren would agree, and Wen Sucheng was a great filial son who would surely accept whatever his father said.

Yan Zhu had disliked this blind obedience to Wen Tianren before, but now he hated it to the extreme.

“Ran’yin, help me find a way to get out,” Yan Zhu grabbed Qi Ran’yin’s hand, urgently. “I’ll go talk to my father.”

Qi Ran’yin frowned: “What can you do?”

“I can. I’m his son,” Yan Zhu said.

Qi Ran’yin hesitated.

He hadn’t met Yan Zhu yesterday. He naturally knew how poor Yan Zhu’s relationship with his father was. Asking him to persuade Wen Tianren was less effective than Wen Sucheng pleading for himself.

“I won’t play the emotional card with him,” Yan Zhu explained. “He cares most about his reputation. He definitely won’t let me talk nonsense.”

Moreover, Yan Zhu had a trump card.

His mother had repeatedly warned him not to reveal her secret because the Bright Heart Sect was his only foothold, and his father was his only backer. As long as he didn’t make a mistake, his father would support him his entire life for the sake of his reputation as a good father.

This was an unspoken agreement between him and Wen Tianren.

Later, as Wen Sucheng grew stronger, Yan Zhu no longer needed to rely on Wen Tianren, but Wen Sucheng was the undisputed next Sect Master of the Bright Heart Sect. Yan Zhu didn’t want to make things difficult for Wen Sucheng, so he never said anything.

But now, there was no need to hide it anymore.

Qi Ran’yin was still conflicted: “The restrictions here were set up by Celestial Venerable. My cultivation is not enough to break them, unless Kong Fu comes.”

But if Kong Fu showed up, it would only confirm the accusations that Wen Sucheng was colluding with the demonic path.

“Then I’ll talk to him,” Yan Zhu said. “You just help me take a letter to my father.”

He turned to write the letter. The content was simple: a warning not to harm Wen Sucheng.

That evening, when Wen Sucheng came again, Yan Zhu brought up the matter.

Wen Sucheng showed no reaction upon hearing it, only saying, “You don’t need to worry.”

Yan Zhu immediately grew anxious: “If I don’t worry, who will? With your temper, you’ll nod as soon as Wen Tianren says something. You’ll suffer a great loss then!!”

His voice was loud and sounded very angry, but the tightly drawn corners of Wen Sucheng’s mouth subtly turned up. It was a rare sight.

He said, “Little Zhu, you’re worried about me.”

Yan Zhu wanted to punch him on the spot: “Is this the time to talk about that?”

“It is,” Wen Sucheng softly said. “You still care about me.”

Yan Zhu frowned: “Are you going to bring up keeping the child again?”

He thought Wen Sucheng would seize the opportunity, but surprisingly, he didn’t. He said, “It will be resolved in two days. Don’t worry.”

Yan Zhu asked how he planned to resolve it, but Wen Sucheng was silent again.

Yan Zhu had to ask him: “What exactly is going on with the demonic energy? How could something like that appear in your body for no reason?!”

Wen Sucheng still didn’t explain. He led Yan Zhu to the bookshelf, took a book, opened it, and handed it to him.

It was a book of ancient divine records.

It supposedly documented the stories of various deities before the Great Separation of Heaven and Earth, covering their origins, strongholds, battle records, and even causes of death.

Since it was a record of deities, it naturally included both righteous and wicked ones. The one Wen Sucheng opened to was a wicked deity who, according to the text, wielded a pitch-black long sword and enjoyed slaughter. Even the emblem of his tribe was a symbol of a person being stabbed through.

Yan Zhu had once seen this symbol on Wen Sucheng’s body, right over his heart on his back. He had asked Wen Sucheng before why he had such a bizarre tattoo, and Wen Sucheng had told him he didn’t remember.

It was clear now that wasn’t the case.

“Do you know about the Ritual of Divine Descent?” Wen Sucheng asked.

Yan Zhu nodded. Simply put, it was inviting a deity to possess a body. After the Great Separation of Heaven and Earth, deities were gone, but mortal cultivators could still borrow a bit of divine power through possession. However, that power was limited, and anyone with a bit of cultivation didn’t need to borrow it, so the ritual was more common among mortals.

“Divine Descent is not only about borrowing a body, but also about giving up a body,” Wen Sucheng said.

That single sentence made Yan Zhu understand his meaning. His face instantly turned grim. Wasn’t that a sacrifice?

He asked: “When did this happen?”

But before Wen Sucheng could answer, Yan Zhu had already figured it out.

There was no way Wen Tianren would do such a thing. Even if he did, it would be to invite a righteous deity, not a wicked one.

The only possibility was before Wen Sucheng came to the Bright Heart Sect.

“I don’t remember when I was young,” Wen Sucheng softly explained with lowered eyes. “It was my family who did it.”

Yan Zhu felt a wave of suffocation.

Family?

“You, didn’t you say you were an orphan?” Yan Zhu looked at him blankly. “What exactly…”

“Yes, they all died,” Wen Sucheng said. “Don’t ask.”

Yan Zhu’s subsequent words caught in his throat. In fact, he didn’t need to ask. It was understandable that Wen Sucheng didn’t want to talk about the family who would use him as a sacrifice.

But the next moment, Wen Sucheng said: “It’s disgusting. You won’t like it.”

Yan Zhu’s heart felt sour and astringent. He glared at Wen Sucheng: “Tell me!”

Wen Sucheng pursed his lips, remaining silent.

Yan Zhu then said, “You owe me this!”

He was referring to Wen Sucheng secretly observing his illusion in the secret realm.

Wen Sucheng hesitated. Seeing that Yan Zhu was genuinely getting angry, he finally raised his hand to touch Yan Zhu’s forehead and quietly chanted a few spells.

Broken images instantly flashed through Yan Zhu’s mind, like fragments of Wen Sucheng’s memory, or a tableau of hell.

He saw bodies piled throughout a city.

He saw a massive, indistinct figure of a man descend before a huge altar. He held a long sword, plunging it into the young Wen Sucheng’s body.

He saw Wen Sucheng’s struggle and resistance.

He also saw Wen Tianren take Wen Sucheng out of that city.

The memory was fleeting, but it was enough to make Yan Zhu break out in a cold sweat. He looked at the person in front of him and said with certainty: “You were not possessed.”

Wen Sucheng explained: “Divine Descent requires excellent root bones and firm faith in the vessel.”

Good root bones were needed to contain such a powerful divine soul, and a person with firm faith would willingly offer their body.

Wen Sucheng was clearly not the latter. He refused, he struggled, and ultimately succeeded in driving the so-called wicked deity out of his body, but the difficult-to-remove demonic energy remained.

“It’s very little now,” Wen Sucheng said.

He had been constantly purifying that demonic energy over the years. The demonic energy in his body was very faint now. In a few more decades, it might completely disappear.

Yan Zhu’s eyes felt hot upon hearing this: “Why didn’t you tell me before? I could have planted some useful herbs for you.”

Wen Sucheng shook his head at this: “You have already helped me greatly.”

Yan Zhu thought he was just placating him, but then heard Wen Sucheng say: “Drunken Sleeve can suppress it.”

It was demonic energy mixed with divine and demonic power. Ordinary spiritual springs could not purify it, and ordinary artifacts could not suppress it. Before he married Yan Zhu, Wen Sucheng had lived in constant pain.

That demonic energy lurked inside him, occasionally leaping out to tempt him to commit evil. He had to exert tremendous effort to resist it and be careful not to get injured or sick, otherwise, once he weakened, the demonic energy would begin to affect his will.

Until he obtained Drunken Sleeve. The first time they met, Drunken Sleeve asked him if he wanted it to beat up the bad thing inside his body.

It spoke while waving its small fists, looking like a naive child raised by a Junior Brother.

Wen Sucheng hadn’t held out much hope then, but he still asked Drunken Sleeve: “Can you?”

He meant to ask if it was possible, but Drunken Sleeve said: “Little Zhu said to listen to whatever you say.”

And then it really suppressed the demonic energy.

Wen Sucheng later realized that Drunken Sleeve was a Natural Spiritual Treasure. It was rumored that the materials for a Spiritual Treasure could not be found in the mortal world because they were treasures only found in the Divine Realm, which was why it could suppress demonic energy that also didn’t originate from the mortal world.

“I didn’t want you to know,” Wen Sucheng said.

He had planned to pretend it never happened once the demonic energy was fully purified, but he hadn’t expected it to be discovered and cause such an uproar, forcing him to confess to Yan Zhu.

“Little Zhu,” Wen Sucheng called him, his voice slightly downcast, “Please don’t hate me.”

Yan Zhu frowned severely at this: “I’ll hate you for locking me up, I’ll hate you for forcing me to keep the child, I’ll hate you for being like my father, but I won’t hate you for this.”

This wasn’t Wen Sucheng’s crime, but he had been atoning for it. What more could he do?

Recalling the events in the secret realm now, Yan Zhu saw that everything had been traceable. That day, Wen Sucheng was meditating with sweat pouring down his face. At the time, Wen Sucheng said the Bright Heart Sect had a matter he couldn’t be distracted from. Now, he figured the distraction was the Purification Spring. The process wasn’t easy, which was why he couldn’t be distracted, and the ‘matter at the Bright Heart Sect’ was likely when he was discovered.

Wen Sucheng hadn’t been discovered for so many years, yet suddenly someone saw him. Perhaps it was even related to Yan Zhu.

Because talking to him, or perhaps something more… like the child, was weighing heavily on his mind, causing him to be momentarily inattentive and allowing someone to seize the opportunity.

What was Wen Sucheng facing by the stream that day? Why couldn’t he tell Yan Zhu?

“It’s because you weren’t willing.” Wen Sucheng’s words echoed in his ear again. Was he talking about Drunken Sleeve then, or something else?

Connecting these things to the past few days, Yan Zhu felt his breathing become labored.

He wasn’t willing.

He verbally offered Drunken Sleeve to Wen Sucheng, said that Drunken Sleeve should listen to him in everything, and showed Wen Sucheng the greatest trust and reliance. So why had Drunken Sleeve never recognized him as its master?

Because he was subconsciously unwilling. He could deceive himself, but he couldn’t deceive the artifact spirit that could peer into his heart.

Drunken Sleeve understood. So it listened to Wen Sucheng but never truly recognized him as master, knowing that Yan Zhu might one day regret it.

Because deep down, he thought Wen Sucheng was very much like his father.

That’s why he didn’t tell Wen Sucheng about the pregnancy immediately.

He desperately wanted to abort the child quickly, not wanting Wen Sucheng to know of the child’s existence.

He was afraid of his father, so he was afraid of Wen Sucheng, and even more afraid of becoming like his mother.

That was why he was so terrified when Wen Sucheng confined him.

It was like a nightmare returned.

And Wen Sucheng had figured this out when Drunken Sleeve didn’t recognize him, or perhaps even earlier.

That’s why Wen Sucheng hadn’t said a word about Yan Zhu wanting to abort the child. Although Wen Sucheng was reluctant, he said nothing because Wen Sucheng knew the reason. Wen Sucheng didn’t want him to suffer.

The change came when the demonic energy was exposed.

If the ending of his parents was his nightmare, then what was Wen Sucheng’s nightmare?

What caused the usually calm Wen Sucheng to undergo such a huge change?

Yan Zhu looked at the person in front of him and felt a sense of familiarity because they had spent countless days and nights together. He was familiar with every part of Wen Sucheng’s body; he could even describe every detail with his eyes closed.

He also felt a sense of unfamiliarity, because Wen Sucheng was completely different from the person in his memory. He wasn’t calm, he wasn’t rational, and sometimes he was even immature, yet he felt more vibrant.

That’s right. How could a person always remain calm and rational, always mature and objective? Even plants had preferences and tempers, but Wen Sucheng didn’t. He was like an idol sitting high above the Bright Heart Sect.

“When did you become like this?” Yan Zhu asked softly.

His question was vague, but Yan Zhu was inexplicably certain that Wen Sucheng would understand his meaning.

Wen Sucheng understood indeed. He said, “I have always been this way.”

Demonic energy easily erodes the heart and breeds inner demons. Thus, although demonic cultivators advance quickly, the higher their cultivation, the harder it is to progress further. Most demonic cultivators are also bloodthirsty and prone to violence. If they don’t use elixirs and artifacts to aid their cultivation, they will eventually suffer a backlash.

Although Wen Sucheng practiced righteous cultivation methods, he was still plagued by demonic energy. Consequently, he was often restless and irritable in his youth. To avoid harming others, he became accustomed to being taciturn and keeping his distance. Although Drunken Sleeve later helped him, the inner nature he had suppressed for years hadn’t disappeared.

He didn’t speak of it because the Sect Master’s prized disciple couldn’t be someone swayed by emotions.

More importantly, he was afraid Yan Zhu wouldn’t like it.

He was even afraid Yan Zhu would be terrified.

Afraid of his obsession and that Yan Zhu would want to flee from him, just like these past few days, where Yan Zhu looked at him like an enemy.

“I don’t want you to hate me,” Wen Sucheng said. “Little Zhu, can you love me?”